China Military Online English Edition (http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/news-channels/international-military-news/2010-01/30/content_4128783.htm)

New Russian air defense system not for export yet: official

(Source: Xinhua) 2010-01-30

MOSCOW, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russia's new S-400 air defense system was initially for domestic use only, despite strong export potential, a senior government exporter said Thursday.

The S-400 Triumph, Russia's latest generation of air defense missile systems, is designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets at distances of up to 400 km. The system is also believed to be able to destroy stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

Anatoly Isaikin, head of Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport, told a news conference Russia would consider exports only after meeting the requirements of its own armed forces.

He said foreign countries had shown a great interest in the S-400 and "there are a lot of preliminary talks."

The first S-400 battalion entered combat duty in the Moscow region on Aug. 6, 2007.

Isaikin said Russia's arms exports had maintained stable growth in the past nine years, with arms sales expanding each year and export destinations surpassing 70.

He said Russia's arms exports surged 10 percent in 2009 from the previous year to stand at 7.4 billion U.S. dollars.

Rosoboronexport, one of the world's leading arms exporters, controls 80 percent of Russia's arms exports and has established links with more than 70 countries.